The Gospel Saves Posts

July 29, 2014 / / Doctrine

The Wise Man and The Foolish Man – Part II

In the previous post we gave a brief overview of the parable of the wise man and the foolish man. In this post I would like to focus on the introduction to the parable. Jesus introduces his thoughts by telling us:

Matthew 7:21-23 ESV “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (22) On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ (23) And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

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July 27, 2014 / / Doctrine

The Wise Man and The Foolish Man – Part I

July 14, 2014 / / Jesus Christ

The Elephant in the Room

Are you familiar with the idea of religious pluralism? Pluralists believe that all religions are essentially teaching the same things and directing their practitioners to the same goal. You may have seen the “Coexist” bumper stickers where the word is spelled with the various symbols of major religions. That’s a pluralist message. Pluralism is best illustrated by the parable of the elephant.

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June 29, 2014 / / Holy Spirit

The Gift of the Holy Spirit

1Cor. 3:16  “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” This, among other similar passages, teach us that the Spirit of God becomes a part of our lives in a unique and living way through salvation in Jesus Christ. Because the Holy Spirit is not of flesh, there is no way to sense His presence in us. It is through faith we know He is there.

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June 17, 2014 / / Worship

An Ancient Art

Tacitus, a well-respected historian and senator of the Roman Empire, is recorded as saying:

“The breastplate and the sword are not a stronger defense on the battlefield than eloquence is to a man amid the perils of prosecution.”

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June 2, 2014 / / Apologetics

The Inspired Word

In my second year of college I took a religious course titled “New Testament”. It was a required course at the public institution I was attending. Before the course started I imagined that this class would be nothing more than a good refresher on the New Testament Scriptures.

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April 3, 2014 / / Church

On This Rock

Last evening, a brother in Christ started a study of difficult Bible passages.  I found his presentation thought provoking, so I decided to write a few blog entries about it. He began with Matthew 16:13-20.   What makes this passage difficult is verse 18:

I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

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February 19, 2014 / / Apologetics

When is Enough, Enough?

“Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.”  I’ve heard this stated several times over the past few weeks.  A lot of people who choose to not believe in God make such demands of believers.

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January 15, 2014 / / Salvation

If We Repent, He Will Relent

In Jeremiah 18, God sends the prophet to a potter’s house.  When Jeremiah arrived, the potter was at his wheel refashioning a ruined piece of clay into a useful vessel.

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August 12, 2013 / / Apologetics

Under the Sun

Solomon began his reign well.  When God granted him any request, Solomon asked for wisdom and was given riches, peace, and length of days to boot.  He realized his father’s vision by building God’s house in Jerusalem.  He expanded Israel’s territory to its farthest extent and accumulated great wealth for God’s people.  However, the many wives and concubines he collected for both political and pleasurable ends influenced Solomon’s apostasy.  Ecclesiastes briefly chronicles his life apart from God. Solomon states his purpose in 1:3, “What profit has a man from all his labor in which he toils under the sun?”  Profit or gain is generally a business term that describes what is left over when all the expenses are paid.  In Ecclesiastes, it expresses Solomon’s search for meaning, value, or purpose in human existence.  “Under the sun” tells us that Solomon searched for these things without involving God.  Solomon puts his earlier faith as well as his father’s faith to the test.  Is life worth living without God?  Can man find happiness or contentment in the world apart from a God worldview?

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